Chapter 6
And so it began – the process of liberating a dear friend and sister from the clutches of darkness. Merlin and Cid launched the computer linked to the defenses of Hollow Bastion to scout for dark activity; Aerith and Yuffie prepared rooms, medicine, and food for everyone (just in case); and King Mickey, Leon, Sora, Donald, and Goofy began scouring Hollow Bastion in search of Geni. Little did they know, however, that their actions were being observed very carefully by both good and evil alike.
Two beings in black were lurking around in the shadows of the boroughs and town plaza, following the search parties wherever they went. Both wore the traditional garb of Organization XIII, yet only one of them was loyal to them. Both were interested in how this expedition would conclude, yet only one of them was hoping they would succeed. However, both would eventually turn to help the realm of light. But for now, our focus is on the rescue teams…
They had split into two groups: Leon and King Mickey were searching the western end of the city, near the Town Plaza and marketplace. Sora, Donald, and Goofy were searching the eastern end with the boroughs, bailey, and construction site near the castle. Both groups were having no luck in finding Geni; however they had all encountered Heartless and Dusks aplenty.
"Your Majesty, let's search Stow Avenue next," Leon said, motioning to his left. "There are many side streets and alleys that branch off from it and plenty of them are in the shadows and very private – the perfect places for Heartless and Dusks to hide in. We might find some Organization members with them, or maybe even Geni," he said hopefully.
"Good idea Leon. Let's hurry; the faster we find her, the better." King Mickey took off at a sprint, with Leon quickly falling in step behind him.
Poor King Mickey, Leon thought. He must have taken it pretty hard, to take this responsibility so seriously and with such vigor. I just hope we're not too late. Leon winced at the possibilities if they failed.
The others were not having much luck either. Having searched the boroughs thoroughly, they headed towards the bailey and the construction site. Donald and Goofy seemed to have been infused with a heartening sense of duty, throwing out their usual gait to that of one with purpose and rapidity. Sora, also filled with this new found energy, lagged behind slightly. He kept fingering the small notebook zippered safely in his right pocket; Kairi's good luck charm was snuggled safely in his left, of course.
Where are you? Sora thought to himself. I have so many questions for you, so many things I want to tell you, so many things I want to show you, so many people I want you to meet. There wouldn't be enough time for everything even if I used Stopga for the rest of eternity. There's got to be some way of finding you; aren't twins supposed to have some kind of connection – even those who have been separated for a long time? Riku showed me that article once in a magazine of his mom's –
Suddenly, Sora was hit with an idea; well, he almost ran into it, considering it was the nearest wall. "Goofy, Donald, wait! I have an idea!" Sora literally shouted.
Goofy and Donald halted in mid-step. "Whatcha got on yer mind, Sora?" Goofy asked. "Did ya see something?"
"No, not yet, but I have a question for you. Earlier, you mentioned that Geni had magical powers, like me, but way more advanced. Did she have any mental powers, like telepathy?"
Donald scratched his head, and Goofy put his finger to his chin. After a moment Donald whacked his forehead; of course! Why hadn't they thought of that before? "Sora, you're genius is showing," Donald said with a large grin.
"Really Donald? I don't see anything," Goofy stated, giving Sora a long studious look. Donald cuffed Goofy on the arm. "Ya know, that really hurt!"
"Aww, grow up, ya big palooka. Anyway, why didn't we think of that before? Every person who uses magic has a certain, well, element to it that makes it their own. Especially Geni – you could just feel the magic spark whenever she was around. If you're thinking what I think you're thinking, then it would be easy to tell if Geni were around!"
"My thoughts exactly, I think; but I believe my idea was based more on relation than on magic, although that might strengthen it. Back on the Destiny Islands, Riku showed me a psychology magazine his mom was reading about the mental connections that twins have. Well, being the little kids we were, we tried it out on each other with, how shall I say, amusing results. But here that idea just might work! Just how we do it, though, is a little puzzling." Sora paused for a moment. "How would you contact someone without actually calling for them or using a spell to find them; how would you find them by just feeling for them?" The trio paused for a moment, deep in thought.
Goofy was the first to stir. "I know!" Donald and Sora looked at him expectantly. "Voodoo!"
A silence the size and depth of a black hole greeted him. "Whaaat?!" Sora and Donald both hollered at the same time.
"Yeah, voodoo! Ya know, how you take something from the person you're doing it on and…" Goofy paused, still receiving the stupefied faces. "Ya know, like make a doll to look like them and stick pins in them so they feel it but you're not actually physically doing it to them…but not in that way," he quickly added. Open mouths and glazed eyes still met him. "Well, we have Geni's journal, don't we? We can sorta use it like…that…"
"Goofy, you're brilliant! Absolutely amazing!" Donald complimented goofy wholeheartedly. Goofy blushed a radiant crimson. "Sora, he's right! We can use Geni's journal and our connections to her to find her!"
Sora unzipped his right pocket and delicately took out the faded and worn notebook. Even touching it sent chills up his back. Sora held it tightly but gently in his hands, wondering what to do next. He fingered the worn spine, and opened up the journal carefully. Neat, small lettering was written all over the pages: on the front, the back, the sides, right side up and upside down. Doodles were drawn in more empty spaces, diagrams and pictures of different people. As he was studying the pages, Sora had a strange feeling come over him; he felt calm and relaxed, his eyes closing slowly as if he were falling asleep.
"Sora? Sora! What's going on?!" He could hear Donald and Goofy, but their voices were distant and muted. Everything around him faded into nothing, as if he were the only person left in the universe. All of a sudden, Sora heard faint singing coming from a ways in the distance. It was the most beautiful song he had ever heard; it was haunting and sad, yet filled him with a sense of peace and belonging. It was a song with no words, but made him want to sing along. Sora could only think of only one person when he heard it, and he immediately knew who it was.
"Geni!" Sora snapped his eyes open, finding himself kneeling on the ground with the small journal clutched tightly to his chest as if it were a sacred relic. He was trembling slightly, but also because Goofy and Donald were still shaking him and calling his name.
"Sora! What happened? All of a sudden you stopped and fell; Goofy caught you but you were in some kind of trance."
Sora tried standing up, but immediately fell forward. Donald and Goofy both caught him, and helped him up slowly. "I know where she is; I know where Geni is! I heard her singing!"
"But Sora, we haven't heard–" pause, large floppy ears tilted "–and still don't hear anything."
"But I know it was her! She's this way, follow me!" Sora quickly zipped the book back into his pocket, and dashed off towards the construction site. Goofy and Donald gave each other quizzical looks, and then followed after their young leader.
Sora ran as fast as he could, following his gut feelings. He had never been more certain of something in his whole life; even when he had to plunge his Keyblade into his own heart, or seal his best friend and the King in the realm of darkness, he was all too hesitant. For now, however, at least reuniting with his long lost sister made him all the more confident of also finding Riku and returning both of them home safely to Kairi on the Destiny Islands. At the moment, nothing could stop him or would stop him. I'll be there soon, Sora thought to himself. Just hold on for a bit longer.
Donald and Goofy had just caught up with Sora when he rounded the bend and skidded to a halt. Goofy hit Sora first, then Donald, and then all three tumbled to the ground. After a bit of moaning and rubbing sore spots, the troop was on their feet. "Hey Sora, why did you stop?" Goofy asked, still rubbing his head.
Sora didn't respond, but slowly began walking towards some heavy machinery. Cement trucks, haulers, and a very large crane were parked under a partially completed bridge that spanned half of the gap high above them. The bright yellow trucks were not what caught Sora's attention; it was the large group of Dusks that surrounded two individuals in black: one with flaming red hair and another easily recognizable figure.
The figure with the red hair was talking and gesturing towards the city, while Geni listened and nodded. The other figure suddenly paused, and seemed to glance around him nervously. Sora ducked down behind one of the trucks, and Goofy and Donald quickly followed suite. Not seeming to notice them, it barked out one last order and a large black oval made of black flames appeared behind him. Geni bowed to the figure, and it stepped through the darkness and disappeared. She stood up straight and turned to the Dusks; with a wave of her hand half of them disappeared. Pausing slightly, she turned toward where the trio was hiding, a sneer upon her lips.
"So, you've finally found me, have you? The Dusks and my superior reported about several individuals running around the town frantically. I could only assume it was you three, and your imbecilic friends."
The three slowly stood up, weapons at the ready. They rounded the truck slowly, keeping an eye on the large company of Dusks in front of them.
"Geni," Sora said, walking slowly towards her.
Geni balked slightly, hearing her name on her brother's lips. "So, they've told you; I assumed as much after our last encounter. What lies did they feed you? Did that pathetic mouse tell you about that 'poor little girl who needs rescuing'? Ha! Don't make me laugh. This was your fault to begin with; you abandoned me in Hollow Bastion in the first place – if it wasn't for you, I wouldn't be like this!" Geni shook with anger, fists curled into balls.
"No, it wasn't." Sora still advanced slowly towards his sister. "I don't know why you ended up in Hollow Bastion, and I in the Destiny Islands. I am sorry for what that Heartless did to you all those years ago. But I want to help you, I want to know you. I want to know my sister."
Geni slowly backed away as Sora came closer. Her black staff appeared in her hands; holding it horizontal to her body she used it like a shield from Sora. "No! Stay away from me! It was your fault; it always has been your fault!" Geni was starting to tremble, starting to lose control of her emotions. "Dusks, attack those three! Get rid of them!"
The Dusks paused in their swinging from side to side, and immediately began taking their long strides towards the trio. "Get ready, you guys!" Goofy yelled to Donald and Sora. The Dusk's hands turned into their commonly known sharp points, and the battle began.
Keyblade swinging, shield crashing, and magic obliterating, the Dusks were quickly being taken care of. When not too many were left, Geni began to run off towards the path leading to the castle. Donald shouted out to Sora. "Sora! We'll finish these guys – go after Geni!"
Sora nodded in reply, and after slicing and dicing his last Dusk, he sprinted off after her.
On the other side of town, Leon and King Mickey just happened to be resting near the central fountain when they heard the explosions. "What was that?" Leon asked, shielding his eyes from the afternoon sun and peering towards the noise.
"It sounded like a huge battle to me! Maybe Sora, Donald, and Goofy found Geni! Let's go – maybe they might need some help!" King Mickey and Leon raced off to join their friends.
They were right – Donald and Goofy, after finishing off the Dusks, were about to head after Sora when the being in black from before appeared suddenly in front on them. "Uh-uh, sorry, no can do. This is a private battle; can't have you rushing in to save the day, now can I? Orders are to keep that girl under our control, so no interfering. Here are some more friends for you to play with! Ta-ta, have fun!" The being snapped his fingers, and twice as many Dusks' appeared as last time, but with even more Heartless to support their ranks.
"Gosh darn it! How're we ever going to go help Sora?" Goofy sighed in frustration.
"Come on, Goofy. We'll just have to plough through them like we did before! Here, this might help though!" Donald tossed Goofy and potion and gulped an ether himself. With renewed strength, they once again entered the fray.
Meanwhile, Sora had been chasing after Geni. It was cut short, however, when she ran into a side passage in the canyon which ended up being a dead end. Turning quickly, she raised her staff in readiness.
"Geni, listen to me! I'm here to help you! I don't want to fight you, but if I have to do it to save you, I will!" Sora said, panting slightly from the long run.
"No! I don't have to be saved; I have all the power I need, I don't need help from anyone – especially the person who started it all! I will crush you!" Suddenly, the end of Geni's staff began to glow blue. As she pointed it at Sora, a beam shot out at him.
"Whoa!" Sora ducked and rolled out of the way, just in time. The beam flew slightly to his left, hitting the canyon wall behind him, causing part of it to collapse. She is powerful! Just like Kind Mickey said. I don't really want to hurt her, but it's for her own good. Sora stood up and took his position at the ready. "I'm sorry that I have to do this, Geni."
Geni froze in her defensive stance. Why was he doing this to her! She was all powerful now; she had a full heart, so why couldn't she strike him?
Sora noticed how Geni seemed to flinch every time he said something kind or apologetic, as if she wasn't used to such things – or didn't want to hear them. He remembered the look she gave him that morning, the stare that could freeze the ocean over. But thinking about it, he remembered something; he remembered seeing something else in her eyes. That's it! Geni wasn't just mad or angry at me, she was sad! I bet she knew what she had become, but couldn't do anything to stop it! I was right all along! Sora realized that the real Geni, the one everyone knew, was still inside of the being of darkness she had become. He had to save her now; he had to free her from the spell the Organization had put on her!
Brimming with confidence and strength, Sora pushed aside all of his doubts and raised his Keyblade. With a deep breath, Sora leapt into battle, preparing to protect his opponent from herself. However, just as Sora was finding his confidence, Geni was losing hers. Her faith in her power was fading, and truth was slowly returning to her mind. As Sora fought her, he didn't fight her but the darkness controlling her. With every strike and hit, with every block and blow, one twin gained ground while the other lost it.
No! We will not lose! a voice inside Geni cried out. This unexpected statement made Geni pause, allowing Sora to perform Ragnarok on her and send her flying into the nearest wall. Sora, also hearing the voice, paused as well.
"Who was that?" he said to no one in particular. Geni staggered to her feet, her staff lying several yards away. She looked up at Sora, her body shaking.
"S-Sora?" she said haltingly. The voice heard was not the overbearing and confident girl he had been fighting, but a small and timid voice that belonged to someone else completely.
"Geni?! What's going on?"
Geni's eyes opened wide. "Sora! The darkness! It's –" Geni was cut off suddenly when she was surrounded by dark, black flames. They consumed her completely, leaving no part of her visible.
Well, we can't have her regaining control, now can we? Sora heard the voice from before. Pathetic little boy, you think that you can break the hold we have on her? Bah, useless!
"Let her go, whoever you are!
Ooh, I'm so scared. Have at us, little boy, if you can! No one can break this spell! The flames around Geni flared up briefly then died down, revealing a transformed person. Geni's hair was now black, and her ocean blue eyes were now a deep gray color with no pupil in sight. This truly was a minion of Organization XIII. Attack him, dispose of him!
Geni held out her hand, and her staff flew to it, like a magnet. In her other hand, a ball of static white lightening was forming. Holding it up, she released the magic: bolts of lightening illuminated the already bright afternoon as they raced through the clearing. Sora dodged and rolled to avoid them, bringing him closer and closer to Geni. Once the lightening died down, Sora rushed Geni's side. He swung the Keyblade, but her staff blocked him. Time after time, they rushed each other until they were stuck in a grapple hold on each other.
"Let her go!"
Geni's soulless eyes stared back, her lips unmoving. No, we think not. She is too valuable an asset to us. You can't win!
Sora was trying to think of a way to hold her down, or at least stop her long enough to use his Keyblade on her. An idea struck him; he leapt back from Geni, and pointing his Keyblade at her, shouted "Stopga!" The magic circle of runes surrounded Geni, but only for a moment or two.
Fool! Haven't you learned anything? Stopga can only be used on opponents of your caliber or less! Finish him! Geni brought her hands together and said a few inaudible words, and then threw the ball of light she had created in her hands towards Sora. It was too large to dodge, and Sora was caught up in it. It was a time spell as well! Unfortunately for Sora, it worked on him; he couldn't move an inch.
Now what? I can't even fight back. If only Goofy were here, we could combine into that new Valor Form the Good Faeries gave me. I don't have any other options. Sora could only look on as Geni lowered her hands and came slowly towards him. She pointed her staff directly at him, as if for the final blow.
Pitiful human, so weak in body and heart. We told you that you could not save her, and now we will watch as she destroys you and the light's only hope!
That's it! "You can never destroy the light, whoever you are. Deep down inside each and every one of us there is a spark of light – a spark that will never go out, no matter how thick the darkness around us may be. Your darkness may have control of Geni's body and make up the half of her heart that is missing, but the other half of her heart is still full of the light!" Sora then reached inside himself (metaphorically, of course) and gathered his light, the light that he knew connected him with Geni. "Never underestimate the power of light!"
Light burst forth from his body and illuminated the entire area. It shattered the time spell holding Sora in place, and engulfed Geni and the entity controlling her. She cried out in pain as she flew backwards from the force of the explosion, paralyzing her body for the few precious seconds she was in the air. Sora took his chance and sprinted forward. Time slowed: Geni, flying through the air; Sora, thrusting his Keyblade forward. Geni's eyes, wide with fear; Sora's eyes, narrowed in determination. Tears were running down his cheeks in shining streams. A muffled whisper: "I'm sorry."
Thud. A sickening, gut-wrenching, guilt-rending sound. A miserable spectacle any observer would have vomited at, yet in its own way was comforting and relieving (for those who knew the reason): Sora, his head still bent in his thrust. His Keyblade protruded through the center of Geni's chest, with the tip visible on her backside. Geni's eyes were wide in shock. Sora slowly stood up, and as quickly and as painlessly as possible, removed his Keyblade from his sister.
Immediately, a mental scream was heard. Black flames sprouted from every spot on Geni's body, sucked out of her as if by an invisible vacuum cleaner. Her eyes transformed from their soulless grey back to ocean blue, and her hair changed from darkest black to a bronzed brown. Furthermore, her Organization XIII robe disappeared, leaving her in a faded cream colored skirt that reached all the way to her ankles, a sage green short sleeve shirt, long arm protectors stretching from her wrist to her elbows, and worn leather sandals. Her hair was tied in a messy pony tail, stray strands loose everywhere.
For a moment, Geni stood there, her eyes staring and unfocused. Sora could only stare back, his Keyblade laying gently by his side. Abruptly, her eyes closed and her body slowly fell forward as she lost consciousness.
"Geni!" Sora yelled as he ran forward. He caught her, her head resting on his shoulder. "Geni! Wake up!" Sora cried frantically. He turned her over gently and placed her on the ground, but supported her top half with his body. She was so light, he was afraid he would break her with the slightest touch. He pulled her close to him and held her tight. "Geni, please wake up; please, open your eyes," Sora begged, his eyes clouding with tears. He rocked her back and forth, wordlessly asking every known and unknown power in the universe to save his sister. A few tears escaped and trickled down his face, splashing onto Geni's. "This can't be happening, it just can't; we all worked too hard to let it end this way."
The drops of pure brotherly love sparked the life within Geni; she stirred slightly, her eyes opening slowly. There was something or someone holding her; whatever it was, her vision was too blurry to make it out. Yet it was so warm and comforting. Could it be? "S-Sora?"
Sora looked down at his sister, a smile spreading from ear to ear. "Hi," he whispered.
Geni reached up and stroked the side of his face gently. "Thank you…..brother," Geni whispered, smiling back at him, before her hand fell and she lost consciousness yet again.